Michael D. Pelts

A Look Back at the Defense of Marriage Act Why Same-Sex Marriage Is Still Relevant for Social Work

The social work profession has made a commitment to serve people who are marginalized and address issues at the direct practice level and the policy level. Beyond the Defense of Marriage Act, marriage inequality in the United States negatively impacts millions of individuals and families. A review of the history of same-sex marriage (SSM) and the current state of SSM suggests that actions at the state level continue to have far-reaching negative impacts. Issues of marriage equality and families headed by same-sex couples will require the advocacy and support of social work for decades to come.

An Exploratory Study of Student Service Members/Veterans’ Mental Health Characteristics by Sexual Orientation

Abstract. Objective: Explore the mental health differences of student veterans by sexual orientation. Participants: Student service members/veterans (N = 702) from the Fall 2011 National College Health Assessment. Methods: Descriptive statistics and 2-sample proportion and mean tests were used to compare mental health characteristics. Results: Student veterans who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, or unsure had higher levels of mental health symptoms and treatment. Conclusions: Results suggest a need for continued examination of student service members/veterans as related to disparities in mental health by sexual orientation.

Wounded bonds: A review of the social work literature on gay, lesbian and bisexual military service members and veterans

Summary The repeal of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell (DADT) allows people who identify as gay, lesbian and bisexual (GLB) to serve openly in the U.S. Military. Military officials are taking great efforts to include GLB service members. This article reviews the historical accounts of the military’s treatment of people who identify as GLB, emphasizing the importance of understanding this history for the social work profession. The article also reports on the review of content related to GLB service members and veterans in 13 journals of social work, identifying implications for social work. Findings Based on the applicability to topic and population, ‘journal impact factor’ was utilized to identify the 13 primary journals of social work from 1992–2013 for content related to GLB and military or veterans. Within the 13 journals only eight articles were published during this period relevant to this population. Applications Results suggest a strong need to provide more scholarly literature and research with military and veterans that identify as GLB. More information is needed to understand the needs and inform social work education and practice.

Intergroup Contact: Using Storytelling to Increase Awareness of Lesbian and Gay Older Adults in Long-Term Care Settings

ABSTRACT Due to societally imposed stigmatization, lesbian and gay (LG) older adults fear and prolong accessing long-term care (LTC) even though they need LTC at higher rates. Interventions that decrease negative attitudes toward LG older adults among LTC staff are a first step in addressing this problem. In this study, the influence of intergroup contact (IGC) on LTC staff members’ attitudes toward LG was explored through the use of storytelling as a training mechanism. An embedded mixed-method approach was employed to collect and analyze responses of 60 LTC staff who participated in a storytelling event. Participants completed pretests, posttests, and participated in audio-recorded group discussions. The findings showed that storytelling had a significant (p =0.001) and positive effect (d =0.57) on participants attitudes toward LG. Qualitative analysis revealed 90 codes, 13 process codes, and 4 themes: making meaning of stories, seeking understanding, application to LTC setting, and debating. When guided by IGC theory, storytelling has potential for positively influencing attitudes of LTC staff members toward LG older adults. There is a need for longitudinal work to further test this model.

Implication for Services With Gay Men and Lesbians Who Have Served

Gay men and lesbians are marginalized in most areas of society. Throughout history, they have served in all branches of the military. All social workers are likely to encounter veterans that identify as gay or lesbian. This article provides social workers an overview of the description of gay and lesbian military members and introduces readers to areas of consideration when working with this population.

Between the Academy and Queerness: Microaggressions in Social Work Education

Three social work scholars explore their experiences of microaggressions in academia using queer theory as a lens to disrupt, deconstruct, and disorder the dominant heteronormative discourse. Qualitative analysis of autoethnography narratives resulted in seven themes describing experiences of microaggressions in social work education. Themes illuminated were as follows: (1) queer isolation, (2) throwing shade, (3) queer insult, (4) biphobia: not queer (straight) enough, (5) too queer, (6) queer backlash, and (7) revolving closet door. Concept mapping was used to explore each of these areas as they relate to the values of social work. Recommendations for social work education and research are presented.

Breaking Taboos: The Power of Group Work for First-Generation Scholars

Collectively reflecting on the call for papers for this special edition of Social Work with Groups served as a reminder for us that groups form in many ways. It also reminded us that what brings pe...